LYON, France – Police and prosecutors from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname have joined forces in their first-ever transnational operation to combat illegal gold mining. The cross-border operation involved over 24,500 checks on vehicles and individuals and led to almost 200 arrests. INTERPOL secretary general Valdecy Urquiza said:“The surge in international gold prices in recent years has resulted in increased illegal gold mining making it the fastest-growing revenue stream for organised crime groups, including in Latin America. Mercury is commonly used in illegal gold mining to separate the gold extracted from other metals and is extremely harmful both to the environment and human health. The operation also led to the seizure of mining equipment, such as pumps and mats used to trap gold, firearms and communications equipment, including mobile phones.